Jan. 06--The NBA announced on Monday that Nikola Mirotic earned Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honors for December.
Mirotic averaged 9.9 points and 5.7 rebounds on the month, which included his 6-for-6 performance from 3-point range for a career-high 27 points in a road victory over the Grizzlies on Dec. 19.
Coach Tom Thibodeau has been trying to find some minutes for Mirotic at small forward recently with the big-man trio of Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson all healthy.
"I like him," Rockets coach Kevin McHale said of Mirotic. "He stretches the court for them. You heard his name a lot so I watched his first few games when he came over to see what he was like. He's a good player."
